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Pistol for Protection While Hunting
After a recent incident while bowhunting for bears in Southern WV I am considering getting a handgun to carry as protection from bears. I am looking for something inexpensive just for that purpose only, can anyone recommend such a pistol? I know I will will need a carry permit to do so.
Jim |
RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
If its not concealed you shouldnt need a carry permit. I too have bear issues as well and carry my Taurus 44 mag revolver. This is a medium frame and not overly heavy. When it comes to bears, I as well as many others will recomend not use anything smaller than a .44. A 357 might be ok but its a little on the iffy side.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
red I know the feeling. I have a I think more bear than deer where I hunt lately here in PA and have come face to face with a few carrying only 'stick and string'. And until last year you could not carry any firearms during bow season. I now carry a Steyr M40 (40 S&W) and feel a whole lot better. I don't know what your budget is but check out the local gun shops and look at the used handguns. I would suggest a revolver, 357 minimum with 4" barrel or if you're looking for a pistol, the 40 S&W as a minimum.
I know statistically it has been stated that 1 in 100 black bear will come at you. You may never meet that individual bear in your lifetime, or it may be the very first bear you see, and it is best to be prepared. Every bear except one I've ever seen, after detecting me, ran away like a scalded dog. One however was a huge boar and was really defiant. He did a face off with me and my full grown lab (on a leash) pacing back and forth on an old dirt road until me and the dog slowly backed off. For some reason on this hike I was carrying my S&W 29 in 44 mag with full house loads. Believe me, it was unholstered and at the ready. Forrtunately I didn't have to use it. |
RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
What are the WV laws about this? Here in NY, there are some mighty big bears, but the State does not permit the carrying of any sort of firearm while bowhunting, period! Permit or no!
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
ORIGINAL: bronko22000 red I know the feeling. I have a I think more bear than deer where I hunt lately here in PA and have come face to face with a few carrying only 'stick and string'. And until last year you could not carry any firearms during bow season. I now carry a Steyr M40 (40 S&W) and feel a whole lot better. I don't know what your budget is but check out the local gun shops and look at the used handguns. I would suggest a revolver, 357 minimum with 4" barrel or if you're looking for a pistol, the 40 S&W as a minimum. I know statistically it has been stated that 1 in 100 black bear will come at you. You may never meet that individual bear in your lifetime, or it may be the very first bear you see, and it is best to be prepared. Every bear except one I've ever seen, after detecting me, ran away like a scalded dog. One however was a huge boar and was really defiant. He did a face off with me and my full grown lab (on a leash) pacing back and forth on an old dirt road until me and the dog slowly backed off. For some reason on this hike I was carrying my S&W 29 in 44 mag with full house loads. Believe me, it was unholstered and at the ready. Forrtunately I didn't have to use it.  .......... |
RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
redmag, here in Pa. we are not allowed to carry a firearm while bow hunting. even with bears more plentiful up here. better check with the game commission in W. Va. before taking one into the woods. it might not be allowed. even with a protection permit.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
According to what I have been told I can have a gun with my bow as long as I have a carry permit. During some seasons I can have a pistol only if Ihave a DNR pistol permit and no need to have a carry permit.
Thanks for the replies. Jim |
RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
mr slim - check your game laws. it is now permitted as of last year.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
ORIGINAL: redmag After a recent incident while bowhunting for bears in Southern WV I am considering getting a handgun to carry as protection from bears. I am looking for something inexpensive just for that purpose only, can anyone recommend such a pistol? I know I will will need a carry permit to do so. Jim |
RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
I carry a 45LC. Six shots of protection against whatever threatens you. I picked it over the .44 mag because I can shoot it better.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
I think if one is afraid to go bowhunting without a gun, then one probably should not be bowhunting. If one is so afraid for life and limb then either stay home or hunt with gun only. That is how I see things here, anyway. The entire concept of hunting with a more primative type weapon is thrown out the window if you are also carrying a gun.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
Personally,I wouldn't feel overly comfortable having any semiauto short of a desert eagle or a .460 rowland conversion for protection against large mammals such as bears IF i carried a handgun while hunting. Since i don't live in bear country and only get to hunt in bear country occaisionally,i don't worry much about it.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
Steve - No one said anything about being afraid!! The point in carrying is for self defense in bear country. If I am archery hunting deer in bear country and it is legal for me to carry a handgun, I will carry one solely for defense purposes. The bow and arrow would be my hunting weapon. There is no way, other than an extremely lucky brain shot with an arrow, to stop a charging bear with a bow. And even with a handgun, unless you are aware of a nearby bear and are ready for him, you are not going to stand a chance if he is close enough. And to fight off a bear (talking black bear), even a small one would be a tough proposition. Except for my previously mentioned incident, most bear I've encountered at close range did their best to put distance between me and them quickly. But there is always the potential to come face to face with that 1 in 100 and I aim to be ready for it.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
Blacck bears should scare, but I would consider 45LC Ruger loads as minimum for bear deturrent. You can be sure he will be mad, if he doesn't scare off!
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
Steve,
I am not afraid of bears I have hunted them with bow 20+ yearsnow inCanada, Maine and WV. The point is if one decides to chomp on me on my way walking out of the mountains, (as one tried to attack a fellow hunter this past weekend), I hope to at least scare it off with the gun. Fortunate for my friend there was enough daylight left to shoot the bear with his bow at very close range (less than 5 yds.) as it was about to charge or so he thought after the bear had acted very aggressive toward him. The bear actually ran at him from 60 yds away and false charged and then laid it's ears back and came at him sideways from 5 yds. Most of the time they run off but in the future I will surely get down with enough daylight left to get back to my atv. Bears in that part of the country don't seem as fearful of people. Jim |
RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
If you value life, go with a B.F.R. in 45/70
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
taurus tracker in 44 mag. it can handle the buffalo bore rounds, and should be sufficient for any nasty critter you'll run across in the lower 48.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
Something in the .500 Smith would definitely be a blackbear stopper.
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RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
Hi Bronko,
Where does it say you can carry any type of firearm for a backup during archery season? For sure you were not allowed in the past, even with a caryy permit.I'm definately not trying to start an argument because we have some bear problems where I hunt too. Thanks |
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